Electrically actuated cartridge



T. v. BOOKS ET AL 2,855,848 ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED CARTRIDGE Oct. 14, 1958 Filed Jline 13, 1955 INVENTORS BY ThomasV Books Henry E. Heigis 2,855,848 LECT ICALLY ACTUATED CARTRIDGE V Application June 13, 1955, Serial No. 515,126 Claims. (Cl. 102-46) The present invention relates to electrically actuated explosive cartridges, and, more particularly, to cartridges having a plurality of charges adapted to propel a projectile.

, Heretofore, cartridges have been utilized, for example, as a component of apparatus for discharging fluids under pressure, as illustrated in Patent No. 2,417,082, wherein a cartridge having a single charge is maintained within a housing by means of a holder and a clamp nut. Such an arrangement possessed a disadvantage'common to all powder charges in that occasionally a dud occurred. Further, installation of replacements was difficult owing to the plurality of parts involved. i

1 Accordingly,an object of this'invention is to provide a cartridge of the foregoing type having superior dependability. f 1

Another object is to provide such a cartridge having a plurality of charges which are interconnected electrical ly for simultaneous firing thereof.

A further object isto provide such a cartridge which is simple and practical in construction and can be easily manufactured and conveniently installed. 7

Other and further objects of the invention'will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrativeembodiment about to be described,'or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is'shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, wherein:

' Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a cartridge illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2"is an end view of the cartridgeshowing the central contact thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge with the charges thereof shown in elevation.

' Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the casing prior to assembly with the, other elements 'of the cartridge.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 55 on Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawingin detail, there.

is shown anelectrically actuated cartridge comprising a casing member 10, a projectile 11, a pair of charges, such assquibs 12, an insulator 14, and an electrically conductive mass, such as a solder contact 15.

In Figs. 3 to 5, the casing is shown as generally cylindrical in shape and having recessed sections 16 and 17 at each end. A relatively thin lip 18 defines the outer portion of the recess 16. The recessed section 17 is formed with a central recess 19 and a generallyconcentric annular groove 20. A pair of closely adjacent, diametrically aligned, axial bores 21 extend from the recessed section 16 which are each provided with wall structure at its other end having a pair of parallel, spaced apertures Hand 23, diametrically aligned both with respect .to, the bores and to the casing. The inner apertures 22 extend fromthe bore 21 to the central recess ,19, and the outer States Patent apertures 23 extend from the bore 21 into the groove 20. The casing is further provided with a hexagonal'wrenching means 24 and an externally threaded section 25, adjacent the recess 17, for securement Preferably, ,it is constructed of a reasonably ductile metallic substance, such as brass or aluminum, suitably protected against corrosion.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the projectile 11 is generally frusto-conical in shape having a conical depression 26 coincident with its larger base. It may be fabricated of a tough metallic substance adapted for shattering a frangible disc, such as stainless steel or Monel metal. The: base end of the projectile is disposed in the recess and is maintained therein by rolling in or otherwise constricting the lip 18.

The squibs may be, of commercial manufacture comprising a powder charge of, for example, two grains of a 50% smokeless powder, 25% lead salt of dinitro-orthocresylate and 25% potassium chlorate mixture contained in asealed brass shell 28 and having a heating filament (not shown) supported therein by a pair of insulated electrical leads or conductors 29 extending from one end of shell 28., The squibs are assembled within the bores 21 with their leads 29 extending through the apertures 22 and 23. The outermost leads are then securely grounded to the casing 10 in any suitable manner.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the insulator 14 is a circular of each of the squibs 12 are further extended through the apertures 34 and commonly electrically connected by the solder contact means 15, thus completing a parallel circuit for the squibs.

Installation of the cartridge is elfected by screwing the same directly into a cooperating bore, without necessity;

for establishing contact alignment or the application of a separate retaining nut. I p

In operation, a source of electrical energy is connected across the solder contact 15 and casing 10, whereupon the lead wires conduct current through the heater filaments within the squibs which then heat to ignite the powder charge to develop the explosive pressure necessary to drive the projectile out of the casing. In the event of failure of either squib, the other squib is adequate for this purpose.

Since individual functional testing for a unit of this type is impossible, no guarantee can be made for 100% individual effectiveness. Environmental conditions alfect not only the charge and the ease of ignition but also the electrical continuity. For illustrative purposes only,

if it may be assumed that one out of every lot of one thousand squibs is defective at the point of requirement, the use of two in a parallel circuit reduces this probability to only one in every million. It will thus be seen that the use of a plurality of squibs is well justified.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a dependable cartridge which is convenient for installation and extremely simple to manufacture and assemble.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is' to be understood that all matter herein'is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

within a housing.

We claim:

1.- A cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical metallic casing member having a recessed section; at each end thereof, one of which is formed with a central recess in the bottom thereof, and having a pair of closely adjacent,diametricallyaligned, axial bores open at one. end and provided with Wall structure at the other end adjacent said central recess, said wall structure of each and with: said pair of apertures in diametrical alignment with respect to said casing member, said casing member having external wrenching. means intermediate the ends thereof and an externally threaded section between said wrenching means and the end provided with said recess;

' adisc formed ofelectrical insulating material secured in said recess :section adjacent said wall structure, said disc having a central projection atone side thereof dis posed in said central recess and a central depression at the opposite :side thereof, said disc having a pair of apertures in registry said central recess; each of said bores each having a pair of conductors with one of said conductors of each pair extending into saidouter apertures through said wall structure and being electrically connected to said wall structure and with the other conductors of each pair extendrng into said inner apertures through said wall structure and being insulated, therefrom and extending into said de pressionyan electrically conductive mass in said depression having the last mentioned conductors embedded therein; and a projectile secured insaid other recess;

section.

2. A cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical metallic casing member having a central recess formed at one end thereof and having a pair of closely adjacent;

diametrically aligned, axial bores open at oneend and provided with wall structure at the other end adjacent said recess, said wall structure of each bore having a.

pair of parallel, spaced, diametrically aligned apertures with the inner aperture of each extending from the bore into saidrecess and the outer aperture of each extendingthrough said wall structure radially outward from said recess and with said pair of apertures in diametrical alignment with respect to said casing member, said casingmember having external wrenching means intermediate the ends thereof and an externally threaded section between said wrenching means and the end provided with said recess; a disc formed of electrical insulating material secured to the end of said casing member formed with said recess, said disc having a central projec tion at one side thereof disposed in said recess and a central depression at the opposite side thereof, said disc having a pair of apertures in registry with the apertures extending into said recess; an electrically ignitable squib. in each of said bores each having a pair of conductors with one of said conductors of each pair extending into the outer aperture of each of said pairs through said wall structure and being electrically connected to said wall structure and with the other conductor of each pair extending through an inner aperture of said wall structure, being insulated therefrom, and extending into said depression; an electrically conductive mass in said depression having the last mentioned conductors embedded therein; and a projectile secured to said casing at the end opposite said disc.

3. A cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical metallic casing member having a central recess formed at one end thereof and having a pair of closely adjacent, diametrically aligned, axial bores open at one end and provided-with wall structure at the other end adjacent said recess, said wall structure of each bore having a extending into said recess; an electrically in each of said bores each having a pair of conductors with one of said conductors of each pair extending 11'1' E0 pair of substantially parallel,

spaced apertures with one aperture extending from each bore into said recess and the other aperture from each bore extending through said wall structure radially outward from said recess, said casing member having external -'"renchingmeans intermediate the ends thereof and an externally threaded section between said wrenching means andthe end provided with said recess; a disc formed ofelectrical insulating'material-secured to the end of said casing member formed with said recess, said disc having a central pro-- jection at one side thereof disposed in said recess and a central depression at the opposite side thereof, said disc having a pair of apertures in registry with the apertures ignitable squib an aperture which extends through said wall structure radially outward from said recess and being electrically with theapertures extending into an electrically ignitable squib in connected to said wall structure,

and with the other conductor of each pair extending through an aperture extending into said-recess, being insulated from said wall structure and extending into said depression; an elec trically conductive mass in said depression having the last mentioned conductors embedded. therein; and a projectile secured to said casing at the end opposite said disc.

4. A cartridge comprising a generally cylindrical metallic casing member having a central recess formed at one end thereof and having a pair of closely adjacent, diametrically aligned, axial bores open at one end and provided with wall structure at the other end, said wall structure of each bore having apair of substantially parallel, spaced apertures with one aperture extending from each bore into said recess and the other aperture from-each bore extending through said wall structure radially outward from said recess; adisc formed of electrical insulating material having acentral projection at one side thereof disposed in said recess and a central depression t at the opposite side. thereof, said disc having a pair of apertures inregist-ry with the apertures extending into said recess; an electrically ignitable squib in each of said bores each having a pair of conductors with one of said conductors of each pair extending into an aperture which extends through said wall structure radially outwardfrom said recess andbeing electrically connected to said wall structure and with the other conductor of each pair extending through an aperture extending into said recess, being insulated from said wall structure and extending into said depression; and an electrically conductive mass in said depression having. the last mentioned conductors embedded therein.

5. A cartridge comprising a metallic casing member having a pairof axial bores open at one end and provided with. wall structure at the other end, said well structure of each bore having a pair of apertures therein; a disc formed of electrical insulating material adjacent said wallstructure, said disc having a central depression at the outer side thereof, and a pair of apertures each in registry with one aperture in said wall structure; an electrically ignitable squib in each of said bores each having a pair bore and being electrically connected to said wall structure and with the other conductors of each pair extending through the other aperture of said Wall structure of each bore and being insulated therefrom and extending into said depression; and an electrically conductive mass in said depression having the last mentioned conductors embedded therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

